September: Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs Care Guide

Preparing the Ground and Controlling Weeds

• Dig over vegetable ground after a dry spell, remove old crops, or use a no-dig technique.
• Control weeds in areas to be dug later by hoeing, covering with old carpet, or using suitable weedkillers.
• Don’t let weeds go to seed, especially chickweed, to avoid future problems.

Planting and Pruning Fruit Trees and Bushes

• Plant new fruit trees and bushes, and control weeds around them for better cropping.
• Prune fruit trees and bushes if not already done.
• Prune raspberry and tayberry canes that have finished fruiting, and tie in new canes.
• Finish summer pruning of over-vigorous apples and pears, shortening long shoots.

Planting and Harvesting Vegetables and Herbs

• Plant spring cabbage to benefit from remaining soil warmth.
• Lift potatoes before underground slugs become active and soil becomes sticky.
• Place pumpkins on flat stones, slates, or wood to protect from heavy, wet ground.
• Plant spring cabbage in ground vacated by early potatoes.

Tidying Up and Harvesting Produce

• Remove and compost non-diseased, spent vegetables.
• Clear out weeds while the soil is still soft and easy to work with.
• Pick apples and pears when they’re ripe; gently lift a fruit, and if it comes away easily, it’s ready.
• Allow pears to ripen off the tree for a week or more.